lesson 20 Flashcards
Explain the creation of the EEC
the Schuman Plan 1950
The Treaty of Rome 1957
Schuman - proposed joining of French and German heavy industries (Steel and Coal)
to promote rapid economic reconstruction
also to eliminate the chance of a war breaking out between the two.
The Treaty of Rome officially launched the EEC. conference in Sicily 1955, British delegate present to observe and encourage but not join.
officially launched without Britain in 1957
explain the creation of the European Free Trade Agreement.
EFTA
the success of the EEC or the six was greater than expected and Britain’s attitudes began to shift.
The European Free Trade Agreement was Britain’s version of the EEC.
This was only moderately successful
why did Britain not join the EEC when it was being created.
Britain wanted to maintain the special relationship with America
Britain was still under the elusion they were a world imperial power
the right believed their trade links with Australia and Canada to be more important
the left was suspicious of free market principles behind the common market
why did Britain want to join the EEC in the 1960s
Britain’s economy was in serious trouble at the beginning of the 60s.
Britain hoped joining the EEC would
1. boost industrial production for a large scale European export market
2. stimulate rapid economic growth as seen already happening in the EEC.
the damage caused by the Suez Crisis and rapid decolonization showed Britain they were not still a imperial world power
negotiations with the EEC were extremely difficult as Britain still wanted strong relationships withe commonwealth and America.
why did De Gualle reject Britain’s application to the EEC
in January 1963 negotiations seemed to have reached a successful conclusion but at the last minute Charles De Gualle exercised the French veto
the other five members of the EEC were equally as shocked and disappointed as the British.
De Gualle believed that Britain was not seriously committed to the European project.
He thought Britain was too close to the commonwealth and America.
